Radio direction finder



Jan. 12 1926. 1,569325 A. LEB

RADIO DIRECTION FINDER Filed August 8, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i Jan. 121926. 1,569,325

- A. LEIB RADIO DIRECTION FINDER Filed August 8, 1922 4 sheets-Sheet 2Jan. 12 1926. 1569325 A. LEIB RADIO DIRECTION FINDER Filed August 8,1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 12 1926. 1569325 A. LEIB RADIO DIRECTIONFINDER Filed August 8. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

able frame shaped antenna.

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED sTATEs- 1569325 PAT NT' OFFICE.

AUGUST LEIB, OF BERLIN, GIEBMANY, ASSIGNOR TO GESELLSCHAFT DRAHTLOSETELEGBAPHIE M. B. H., OF BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPOBATION OF GERMANY.

RADIO DIRECTION FINDER.

Application filed August 8, 1922. Serial No. 580,515.

To all clmn it may concern: Be it known that I, AUGUs'r Lum, a ctzen ofGermany, residing at 12/13 Hallesches Ufer, Berlin, Germany," haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Radio Direction Finders;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the in- Vention, ot' which the following is aspecifirat-ion, and on which an application was filed in Germany, May24, 1921, No. (i. 53,945.

For determining the location of a receiver or the direction of atransmitter therefrom receivers have heretofore been employed which wereprovided with a rotat- This frame shaped antenna was su ported forrotation about a fixed axis, an the rceever, when installed on vehicles,ships and the like, had the disadvantage that in an inclined position ofthe vehele or vessel, the axis departed considerably from the verticaldirection, thus giving rise to geometrical mistakes in the reading ofthe instrument.

According to the present invention, this disadvantage is overcome byarranging the frame shapped antenna, inclusive of all parts 'which areaffected by the incoming waves, such, for example, as coupling coils andtuning means, to turn on an axis, and by so supporting the turnng axisas to cause it to always assume a vertical position, even when the casevehiele or vessel on which the receiver is installed occupies aninclined position.

This can be attainecl by supporting the frame shaped antenna onauniversal bearing and suitably weighting it. The means for tuning theantenna can in this casebe used as a weight.

In one practical embodiment of the invention, the frame shaped antennais fitted with a ball or other spherically curved pivot which allowsfree movement of the antennatowards all sides and its automaticadjustmenst into the vertical position, as well as its turning. 4

The pivot can be arranged either above or below the antenna. In thelatter case a counter weight is connected to the axis of the antenna 'inorder to' obtain a stable eq iilpoise.

e pivot is preferably arranged wth its' centre of -curvature concidngwth the centre of the antenna f'ae, so that when the Vehicle or ship' isuoving the antenna describes only a rotation about its centre inmaintaining its vertical position.

The pivot member 'l'orming the hearing for the l'rame shaped antenna isc0mpara-.

tively' very large and provided with a sealc, while Qn the t'rane apointer ounted cooperating with this scale. I

ln order to better explain the invcntio, Figs. L to 5 of the drawingsshow, by way of example, several of its practical embodiments.

weight 8. 9 is a pointer Secured to the support G and cooperating withthe seale 4. The support 6 is formed with feet 10 which may be rigidlyconnected to the floor 11, 12 of a vessel or other vehicle. The mode ofaction ot' the device is evident from the drawing. In every position ofthe floor indieated by the line 11, 12, the antenna 1 will assume avertical position in consequenee of the efl`ect of the counter weight 8.

The arrangement according to Fig 2 is the same with the only exceptionthat the ball pivot is arranged above the frame shaped antenna. In thisarrangement the counterweght may be omitted as the antenna together withthe receiving apparatus 2 acts as a stabilizingweight. I

The arrangement according to Fig. 3 is fitted with a spherically curvedpivot '3 of such a design that its centre of eurvature eoincdes with thecentre of the antenna 1. The advantage of this'expedient can readily beseen. when it rocks or changes position, moves relatively to the centerof the antenna 1 in a circular path about the center of the antenna 1 asa center of eurvature. Thus it will be seen that all points on thevehicle, even the they Shift position relative to, the antenna, maintainconstant distances therefrom thus maintainn the capacitance between theantenna an the vehicle constant The entire Vehicle,

irrespective of the position of the vehicle.

'I'n Fig. 4 an arrangement is' shown in which the antenna eoil 1 islocated 'above deck 'and the counterweight below clock; 'l`hecounterweight is suitably formed by the receiving apparatus 2 to whichare connected relays 14 and a battery by means of a cable strand 13. Theantenna frame is also in this case supported by the ball bearing 3, 5.The ball bear-ing 3, 5 is provided in the support 6 and is covered by acap 16. This cap may be provided with a scale 4 on wvhich plays apointer 9 attached to the support.

In Fig. '5, au arrangement is shown in which the antenna 1 is locatedabove' the deck and receiving apparatus 2, acting as a counterweight islocated below deck. Both the antenna and receiving apparatus are nountedon the shaftor axis 7 whichin turn is supported by means of a universalbearing having its center of curvature coincident tenna having anopening for said axis of' substantially greater diameter than the axis,`

with the center of antenna 1 as is in Fig. 3.

'to assume a vertical position regardless of inclination of the support.

2; A radio device comprisng a frameshaped antenna, an axis upon whichthe antenna is mounted, 'a support for the ana spherically curvedvbearin'g member` fixed to said axis below the antenna for mounting iton the support, and a counter-weight on the lower end of said axis formaintaining the antenna in' a condition of stable equipise with its axisin a vertical position, regardless of inclination of the support.

3. A radio device eomprising 'a', 'frameshaped antenna, a rotatable axisupon which the antenna is mounted, a support for the antenna francadapted to be securcd upon a ship or other vehicle and having an openingfor said axis of substantially greater diameter than the axis, and aspherically curved bearing nember for. said axis having* its -center ofcurvature coinciding with the direction, and a counter-weight Secured onthe axis below the deck for causing the axis position;

A radio device comprising -a frameshaped antenna, an axis upon which theantenna is mounted, a support for the antenna having an opening for saidaxis of substantially greater diameter than the axis, a universalhearing for said axis for enabling it to assume a vertical positionregardless of inclination of the support, receiving apparatus mounted onthe' axis below said bearing and serving as a counter weight formaintaining the axis in its vertical position.

6. A radio device comprising a frame- -shaped antenna, an axis uponwhich the antenua is mounted, a support for the antenna having an openngfor said axis ofsubstantally greater diameter than the axis, a universalbearing for said aXis for enabling'it toassume invariably a verticalposition, and a cap fixed on the axis above the hearing,

said cap and' said support being provided with a co-operating scale andpointer.

7 A radio device comprising an antenna, a support for said antennaadapted -to be mounted on a vehiele subject to rocking, and means formaintaining the said antenna in a fixed direction and for insuring thatany given parts of the vehicle shall be always at a constant distancefrom said antenna, irrespective of the position of said vehicle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my ,name to this specification.

'AUGUST LEIB.

`to be maintained always in such vertical

